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Post by godshine on Feb 21, 2009 23:37:25 GMT
Hi guys, first post... So I love this film, watched it this week for the first time since it came out and am still deeply effected by it. I have worked supporting people with learning disabilities all my working life, and the issue off vulnerability of such people is fantastically portrayed in this film. Meadows and Considine mirror real cases of abuse in the community, not long since there was a spate of such attacks where a person was bullied and ultimately killed by a gang not dissimilar to the one portrayed in the movie. Sadly in reality these people wont have a Richard coming to avenge them Some tragic cases mentioned here: www.mencap.org.uk/page.asp?id=1954 |
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Post by GR on Feb 22, 2009 1:08:04 GMT
Welcome, godshine -- nice to have you aboard. Those were some painful cases to read about...  But it IS important for people to be aware that stuff like this -- people being neglected, taken advantage of, and outright abused because of their disabilities -- is going on in real life, and it's good to see campaigns such as that of MenCap trying to do something about it. |
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Post by godshine on Feb 22, 2009 18:15:29 GMT
Thanks for the welcome, I am interested in how things set in gritty northern/midlands of England are seen in America etc as all to often all you are shown is london london cockney sheeeiiitttee
And it aint like that
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Post by GR on Feb 23, 2009 0:21:33 GMT
As a Midwesterner, I have similar complaints about Hollywood either seeming to forget there's more to this country than New York and Los Angeles, or else portraying other parts of the country in a condescending manner...
What I love about Shane's movies is that they give you a good sense of the north/midlands without resorting to hollow stereotypes -- his characters are fleshed-out human beings. (I really like Alexander Payne's Omaha-set films such as Election and About Schmidt for pretty much the same reason.)
Besides, there are stories everywhere -- not just in the big cities -- that are worth telling. Being an Anglophile, I think it's refreshing to see English films set outside of London, whether as arty as My Summer Of Love and Control or as blatantly crowd-pleasing as The Full Monty and Billy Elliot.
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Post by paulblackpool on Feb 23, 2009 1:18:41 GMT
Read the link, important points brought up there Godshine, its digusting how anyone could treat another human being like that. Like your self i work in support, working with vunerable adults and young people who are homeless, its good that Mencap bring this to peoples attension.
Welcome to the forum Godshine.
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Post by godshine on Feb 23, 2009 15:14:09 GMT
Read the link, important points brought up there Godshine, its digusting how anyone could treat another human being like that. Like your self i work in support, working with vunerable adults and young people who are homeless, its good that Mencap bring this to peoples attension. Welcome to the forum Godshine. What I find very disturbing is also brought up in the film, when it is not just one perpetrator, but a group, it becomes even more sickening as you think at least one person would say "Stop" |
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Post by jill on Feb 23, 2009 23:24:34 GMT
It's just a sad fact that anyone who's vulnerable (learning dificulties, homeless, even just lonely) is much more likely to be the target of a scumbag(s). I guess this is why we are always kind of rooting for Richard even though his actions are so wrong-there is a sort of perverse satisfaction in seeing them get their comeuppance isn't there.
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Post by laurachan on Mar 16, 2009 11:24:17 GMT
i totally love this film and so does my mam, she works with people with learning dificulties and also witnesses these type of actions all the time, which is really shocking and i think its amazing that shane has adressed these issues in this film. i read an interview with shane meadows recently talking about dead mans shoes and part of the narrative influence was created due to a lad that shane knew when he was younger who was in a similar situation if you want to read the interview here is the link www.lazaruscorporation.co.uk if you go here and type in either shane meadows or dead mans shoes in the search box. |
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Post by Dazza on Mar 16, 2009 16:13:48 GMT
As well as being a film maker I work with 16-24 year olds with learning difficulties to pay the bills. Never will you meet such sweet, kind, caring people that know how to enjoy life to the full, on the other hand you probably wouldnt meet anyone as vulnerable which is a concern.
I'm currently teaching one of my students to swim for his duke of edinbirgh award and once he gets there it will be a great achievement for me as well as him. Its probably one of the greatest privalages that i've had working with these young, energetic people as well as one of the most fun things I've done in life.
Now the thought of someone harming such a kind and caring human being is enough to make me feel physically sick and I can honestly say that I would react in the same way as Richard in physcially punishing the perepertraters if they'd done anything like that to one of my students! Ok maybe not so extreme.
As a film maker I've tried to include characters with learning difficulties in a couple of my forthcoming films, subtily to try and raise awareness in people in society as the problem is the majority of people are not only small minded but in some way scared of someone who is different, its sad but its true.
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But it IS important for people to be aware that stuff like this -- people being neglected, taken advantage of, and outright abused because of their disabilities -- is going on in real life, and it's good to see campaigns such as that of MenCap trying to do something about it.
